Timber clamp



' Jun 16, 1925 1,542,339 P. E. CDLEMAN TIMBER CLAMP Filed April 25 1924 Pa hie/2'51 boieman Patented June 16 1925. a

{UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, PATRICK E. COLEMAN,,OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

. I l e mnvnenn CLAMP.

' 1 v hpplication'filed April 25, 1924. Serial No. 709,056. v

new and useful Improvements in Timber.

Clamps, of which the following is a specification. p v

This invention relates to a device 7 for clamping different pieces of timber together such asis used in, the construction of scaffolding and similar structures; :and an object of this invention is to provide-a device of this character which may be effectually locked in position and which will besimple in construction and reliable in operation.

vA furtherobject of the invention is the provisionfof a key positioned between the overlying ends of the timbersto be clamped together which key will be impressed into the adjacent surfaces when the device is in clamping position, to prevent the timbers from' moving one relatively, to another.

A still further'object of this invention is to offset a portion of-the bridgeof'theU-shaped clamping memberxwhereby the bearing surface of'tliis' bridge isset outwardly toward the hook] side of" the clamping member so that the points of applied clamping pressure will'be substantially in linewith each other;

A still further object of this invention is the provision of means to prevent the spreading of the arms of the U-shaped member.

With these and other objectsin view, the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be. more fully described, and particularly pointed out in, the appended claims. I

i In the accompanyingdrawings:

Figure 11s a' side elevation illustratingmy improved clampingdevice as clamping two timberstogether and also illustrating in dotted lines'the position assumed by my device before it ismovedto clampingposition. Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating my timber clamp with the lockingplate removedfl Q Figure 3 is a detail perspective viewillustrating my hinge locking plate. v i Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of key which I'employ. 4 y

Figure 5 is, a side elevation diagram-v matically illustrating the center line through clamping points ofthe bridge and key of my device.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating my timber clamp as applied to timbers dis posed at an angle to each other.

Figure 7 is a side elevation illustrating my timber clamp in inclined position as applied to timbers of a less dimension than the maximum that it is designed to grip.

'It is found in practice of advantage in the construction of timber clamps of this character, to provide offset portions in the bridge of the Ushaped member both for locating the point of the clamping action outwardly towards beneath or in line with the hooks at the upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped member and also for providing an increased bearing surface of this bridge portion of-the It; is also found desirable to notch the locking plate which engages the hook-shaped portions of. the arms of the U so as to effectually prevent these arms from spread- 1ng during a clamping action and it is also foundin practice ofadvantage to provide a plied to them, and by the use of this key,

I further find that a clamping device of this character maybe used on timbers placed at an angle to each other or the clamping device may be applied in inclined position to timbers of a smalleredimension than the maximum sizedtimbers it is designed to hold and that thekey efi'ectually prevents the slipping or moving of one of these timbers with relation, to theother .when the device is in clamping position; and the following is a detailed description of one means by which this result may be accomplished:

With reference to the'drawings, l0 designates my U-shaped clamping memberwhich is provided, with abridge member 11 having arms 12 bent to form an acute angle as at 13 at their upper ends and a hinge locking plate 14 forming a toggle and suitably notched'as at 15 for engagement with the bent portions of the arms of myU-shaped member to prevent spreading of the arms as seen appliedto timbers 16 and 17 in Figure 1. At the ends of the bent overportions 13 f the arms 12 I provide lugs 34 to arrest the utward movement of the upper edge of late 14.7 t This locking plate may be corrugated as at 18 to provide increased bearing surface for engagement with the timber 16 to be clamped.

In order to effectually prevent timber 16 from moving with relation to timber 17 after my device is in clamped position, I provide a bar or key 19 which is substantially square in cross section and disposed with its corner portions 20 and 21 for contacting with the adjacent surfaces of the timbers to be ,clampedso that the same may be readily pressed thereinto. I also bend the ends of this key to form elongated loop portions 22 for loosely engaging the arms 12 otmy U-shaped clamp both to permit of moving the key towards or away from the bridge portion and to permit moving the arms 12 of the U -shape d member at right angles to the longitudinal line of key 19 to clamping position. .7 r I In clamping the timbers 16 and 1'7 together, by the use of my improved device, 1 position one timber between the bridge 11 and ,key 19 and theother member between the key 19' and locking plate 1 1. With the arms of the U in upright position, as shown at 23, in Figure 1, withthe locking plate inclined'and resting on the surface of the timber 16, as shown a:t 2 l in dotted lines in Figure 1. I; then move the arms 12 ot' the U-shapedmember from their dottedline' position to the full-line position, whereby the platelet pivots from itsdotted-line position to the full position shown in Figure 1, ,while the key 19 remains relatively stationary and the arms 12 move in the loop portions 22. At the same time the timbers move from dotted-line position in Figure 1, to the full lineposition shown in Figure 1, whereby the key is impressed into each of the adjacent surfaces ,ofthe, timbers to be clamped and effectually preventing their being moved. The upper edge of the locking plate, 1 1 in moving from its dotted line position to its full-line position, Figure 1, moves tromthe inner angle 25-, to the outer angle 26 of the bent portion 13;while its lower edge remains substantiallyat the same point with relation to the upper surface of the timber 1,6, and in order that the distance from the pivoting point on the timber to the engaged portion of the hook may not be lengthened, I have compensated by inclining the surface 27 of the hook so that it forms an acute. angle to the arm 12, the degree of this angle being such as to form a toggle with plate 14 when moved into lockingpositiqn. j a V In order that the supporting surface of the bridge portion of the U-shaped clamping member maybe inline with the hook and the key, I have offset portions of the bridge member as at 28, whereby the bearing points or" my bridge, key and timber engaging edge of my locking plate are in substantial alignment or the bearing points of my bridge and key will be in a line which falls just outside of the bearing edge of the locking plate,

by which construction it will be seen that the locking plate is disposed beyond the line of clamping force so that the plate does not have a tendency to move from clamping position after the device is moved to its clamping position.

IV hen using very soft timbers, I may employ a key as illustrated in Figure 4, having corrugations 29 to produce an increased bearing or engaging surface to increase the friction of this key and prevent relative movement of the timbers.

For instance, where it is desired to clamp timbers at an angle toeach other, I may apply my timber clamp to timbers 30 and31, as shown in Figure 6, which will beeiiec; tually held in place bv theaction of the key being impressed into each of the adjacent surfaces thereof and prevent relative movement of these timbers after the clamp is moved to its gripping position.

In other instances, I may utilize this device to clamp timbers of smaller dimensions such as 32 and 38, as illustrated in Figure 7, in which case my clamp is inclined tocompensate for the shorter distance between the bridge and edge of my clamping plate, required to grip the outer surface of the smaller timbersto be clamped.

It willthus be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a timber clamp exceedingly simple in construction, effective in its operation and adapted for use in clamping timbers of varying sizes and in different positions. d

The foregoing description isv directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: I a

1. A timber clamp. comprising a substantially Ushaped member and a locking plate, the t! shaped member having its ends bent downwardly and lying at such an angle thereto as to present an inclined face along which the edge of the locking plate is slidable. v y p 2. A timberclampcomprisinga substantially U shaped member and a locking plate, theU shaped member having its ends bent downwardly and lying at such an angle thereto as to. present an inclinedface along which the edge of the locking plate is slid-- able after, the U shaped member has been moved into clamping position. a a,

3. A timber clamp comprising a substantially U-shape member adapted to embrace the timbers, a key having elongated openings through the ends and slidably engaging said member and a plate cooperating with said member to form a toggle for exerting a clamping action on the timbers.

4. A timber clam comprising a substantially U-shape mem er adapted'to embrace the timbers, the ends of the U-shape member being inclined downwardly, a key adapted to lie between the timbers clamped, a plate co-operating with the downwardly bent portions of the U-shape'member to form a tog-' gle for exerting a clamping action on the timbers.

5. A timber clamp comprising a substan tially U-shape member adapted to embrace the timbers, a key having angular edgesadapted to lie between the clamped timbers and grip their respective surfaces, the ends of the U-shape member being bent to form an acute angle, a plate having notches in its upper edge and adapted to receive therein the bent portions of the U-shape member to form a toggle for exerting a clamping action on the timbers.

6. A timber clamp comprising a substantially U-shape member having its ends so bent as to present adownwardly' sloping surface on their under sides, a key having elongated openings through the ends thereof and adapted to slidably engage the U- shape member, a locking plate having notches in one of its edges and adapted to receive therein the downwardly sloping portions of the U-shape member and forming a toggle for exerting a clamping pressure upon the timbers.

7 A timber clamp comprising a substantially U-shape member having its ends bent to form an inclined face, a locking plate slidably related to the inclined face, a key having gripping portions adapted "to be placed between the timbers to be clamped and elongated openingsthrough the ends thereof, the arms of the U-shape members passing through said openings and being capable of movement therein at right angles to the longitudinal line of the key.

8. A timber clamp comprising a substantially U shaped member, a locking plate, the U shaped member having its ends ben downwardly and lying at such an angle thereto as to present an inclined face along which the edge of the locking plate is slidable and means carried by the U shaped member for arresting the movement of the locking plate.

9. A timber clamp comprising a substantially U shaped member, a locking plate, offset portions at the base of the locking plate, the U shaped member having its ends bent downwardly and lying at such an angle thereto as to present an inclined face along which the locking plate is slidable and offset portions carried by the bridge of the U shaped member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PATRICK E. COLEMAN. 

